The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1887-09-14
CLARK PIERsoN, Editor.
LAMBERTVILLE, N. j.
WEDNESDAY,, SEPT. IA, 1887.
THE HORSE EPIDEMIC.


A New York city correspondent of the
New York Times sends a communication
to that paper, in which he says:
Spinal meningitis now prevails some
what in New Jersey, and seems to be
commencing as an epidemic in New York.
1t may be followed, as it has been in
former years, by an equally great pre-
valence among human beings. Up to a
very few years ago it always prevailed in
great epidemics, and isolated cases were
rarely seen except as the precursors of
widespread prevalence of the disorder.
Even as late as 1879 the late DIR. Austin
Flint wrote: "This disease rarely occurs
save when it prevails to greater or less
degree as an epidemic" Hence we may
be on the eve of great outbreak among
animals and human beings, as was the
case some fit IN or twenty years ago.
A. few points about the causation of the
disease are known. Thus it and some
rheumatic disorders are more apt to pre-
vail in cold and wet seasons, and we have
had an unusually wet time. This was
the case in 545 epidemics out of 718 of
which we have records. 1t is equally Ger
tain that it is not simple rheumatic af-
lection or Inflammation. Another ele-
ment is apt to be present, and that is
filth poison, for it is moro apt to rage in
barracks, rooms, or stables in which many
persons, soldiers, prisoners, or animals
are crowded together, from which all
ventilation is excluded, and dampness,
great filth, and an atmosphere loaded
with putrid emanations are extremely
perceptible. Hirsck.
Another possible factor is bad food.
Moldy grain and grass for animals is
spoiled meat for human beings. Grass or
other food spoiled by excessive rains has
often been suspected, especially rye grass
which has been allowed to heat or fer
ment before being used, or in which the
process of drying or whitening had not
destroyed but rather developed irritating
or nox.ous or perhaps a narcotic quality
of the raw or crude grasses. Preventive
measures now seem called for. None but
sound food should be given to horses.
Stables should be kept unusually sweet
and clean; brooms and washing water
should be used freely; the cutters and
drains should be often and we'll flushed
out and disinfected; and some disinfect-
ant, perhaps air-slacked lime, or, better,
crude gypsum or land plaster, should be
spread, not merely sprinkled, all over the
walks behind and between the STALLS
The whole floor of the stable should be
white with lime or gypsum, SO that no
bad smell is perceptible, and one should
be able to walk everywhere dry shod and
clean shod. The lime or gypsum will al
so keep down all offensive smells. AS
the manure pits greatly enhance the fer
tilizing value Of the manure every stable
keeper should be peremptorily ordered to
use one or the other, or both. 1t is safe
to say that all epidemic diseases in sta
bles would be quickly stamped out; that
city stables would no longer be greatly Of
fensive to near neighbors; that those sick
with pneumonia or other diseases in which
pure air is absolutely necessary would re-
cover in larger proportions than they
now do.